Barb-fence wire



which it is composed.

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. UPHAM, OF STERLING ILLINOIS. 1

BARB-FENCE WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-No. 244,953, dated July 26, 1881.

Application filed March 4, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. UPHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of -Whitesides and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barb-Fence Wire; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or'figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, from the front of the barb as placed'on the fence-cable. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the barb, the cablewires being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thebarb in position. Fig. 4 is a top plan, showing barb in position. a

This invention relates to improvements in barbs for wire fence cables; and the novelty consists in the peculiar manner .in which the pieces which form the barb are wound upon each other and upon the cable, all as will now be more fully set out and explained.

In the accompanying drawings, A denotes a wire-fence cable; and a a, its strands, twisted. B is the barb, and b b the pieces of wire of The piece I) is wound entirely about the cable-strands, and its ends project on either side at right angles to the cable and form two of the barb-points. The piece I) is wound between the cable strands, wholly around the part b, and its ends pro- 3,5 ject from each side of the cable and also at right angles to the ends of part b, and form the othertwo points of the barb. As thus made and applied the ends of the barb will almost always stand in the uniform relation with each other as now shown in Fig. 5, where the ends of b point vertically up and down, and the ends of b horizontally and at .almost exact right angles with those of b.

This barb has very great advantages as a practical device. The first section winds around both main wires, holding the wire firm, leaving both ends exactly equal in opposite directions. Thenthenextsectionwindsonlyaround the first section and between the two main wires, (not outside,) its points in opposite directions, and necessarily at right angles with the first two points. This position, winding aroundfirst section and between the main wires, protects the points of this section and prevents them from slipping or bending, and the twist of the two main wires prevents the last or middle section from bending. Thus it will be noticed the point of each is supported and leaves all the points exactly at right angles. This is veryimportant. The barbs, having support, admit the use of N 0.14 wire, which is a great saving in weight, and is more of a needle-barb than anyin use, prickinglbut not lacerating. In this'way a very uniform barb is made. It will always hold a strong and secure place upon the cable.

I am aware that structural devices have been heretofore patented consisting substantially of a staple dropped astride eithcrasingle or twisted strand or fence wire, and having in connection therewith a second piece of pointed wire wrapped around the prongs of the riding-staple, and held in position upon the cable by the spreading apart of the prongs of the first described staple. The integrity of this device depends upon the strength and rigidity of the riding-staple, and this is governed by the free legs of the ridin g-staple maintaining their position. In my device there is no staple. One wire of my barb is wrapped about both cable-wires, and the second wire of the hard is wound about this and between the cable-strand, so as to completely infold the first barb-wire and secureits permanent shape and position on the cable. Thus I have a barb with points always at right angles with each positively fixed upon the cable and capable of holding its place under any condition of use or wear.

Having thus described my invention, what I consider new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the wire-fence cable A, the barb B,consisting of the part1), twisted wholly about the cable, and the part b, twisted between the cablewires and wholly around part b, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW J. UPHAM. Witnesses:

J. MAYNARD, W. H. Boss. 

